Duplicating machine and method



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Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES vvu VII PATENT OFFICE DUPLICATING MACHINE AND METHOD Ernest M. Terry, Harrison, N. Y.

Application December 2, 1935, Serial No. 52,508

4 Claims.

This invention relates to the method or process of duplicating printed, written or drawn records made on master copies with copying ink.

In duplicating processes and machines such as are the subject of the invention herein, it is customary to moisten a clear sheet of copying paper with a suitable solvent and to pass such moistened sheet through a compressing medium which process deposits upon the moistened clear sheet a portion of the copying ink from a master copy which passes simultaneously through the compressing medium and in contact with the clear sheet. The machines and processes heretofore developed have several undesirable features.

The methods for moistening the clear sheets do not provide efiective control of the amount of liquid deposited and, therefore, furnish non-uniform distribution of solvent and consequent unevenness of duplication. The methods and machines heretofore developed do not permit complete operation from a single operators position.

'When a new master copy is to be mounted the operator must do so from the rear of the machine. In addition, many of the existing devices moisten and print upon the underside of the clear sheet, ejecting the reproduction face down. If the sheet is not completely dry the characters may blur.

Some of the objects of my invention are to eliminate the undesirable features of the preceding paragraph and to provide means for uniform moistening of the upper face of the clear sheet and means for mounting the master from the ordinary operators position.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the detailed description herein and the drawings which accompany the same and in which drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top view of my duplicating machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation and shows the general arrangement of the parts thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial end detail view of the moistening fluid tank and associated parts;

Fig. 4 is a similar side elevation view;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top detail view of the master copy holding mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a similar side elevation view;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged side elevation detail view of the pressure roller and associated elements;

Fig. 8 is a similar end elevation view; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view of the pressure bar catch.

In the drawings elements l0 and l I are the side mounting plates of the stationary frame in which the various parts of the duplicating machine are mounted. The mounting plates are held in position by means of rods l2, nuts l3 and bosses 29 on tank 21 which tank contains a moistening fluid such as alcohol.

Element I 4 is the platen or drum upon which the master copy is mounted. Clamp 44 is arranged so that it may be raised against the tension of spring 43 and a master inserted and a pin fastened to drum 14 will engage said click when said drum reaches the end of its cycle. Screw I9 is mounted to an arrangement within drum l4 to permit changing the relative positions on shaft l5 of drum I4 and gear 15. Pin [8 is located in the end surface of drum l4 so that it engages cam lever 23 at the end of the printing cycle.

Cam lever 23 is pivoted on shaft 25 and is retained at its position with stop 24 pressed against moistening pad 30 by means of spring 26. Pad 30 which is made of a porous and absorbent material such as felt is in contact at one end with pad 3| which is made of a similar material. Pad 3| is fastened to absorbent cords 32 which protrude into the solution in tank 21 through openings in the top. The moistening solution in tank 21 is poured therein through an opening ordinarily closed by cap 33. Tank cover 28 encloses the tank, moistening cords, etc. and is held in. place by means of pins and spring clamp 55.

Pressure adjusting lever 34 is fastened to shaft 49 at the midpoint of which is also fastened lever 31. The angular locations of both levers 34 and set screws 38. Lever 31 presses upon the center of cross bar 39 at both ends of which are mounted pins 4| which engage with bearings movably located in guides 42. Roller 40 rotates in bearings 50 and is driven by friction with drum l4. Element 36, constructed of parts 36, 361, and 362, is a click pin arrangement which engages'with element 35 so that lever 34 may be retained at any desired position within the arc of element 35.

Platform 5| serves as a guide for feeding the clear'paper into the machine and is retained in its horizontal position by means of support 52. Element 53 is the platform upon which the duplicate print is ejected upon the completion of the anus printing cycle. Platform 54 is an extension of platform The sequence of operations is as follows. Tank cover 23' and caps 33 are removed permitting tank 21 to be filled with moistenjng fluid. The fluid is absorbed by capillary action in cords 32 and carried by gravity to pads 3| and 30. The reverse master is placed upon the horizontal surface cf cover 28 after caps 33 and said cover are replaced and the end of the master guided into place under clamp 44 so that the inked face is outward. Drum I4 is given one revolution by rotating lever 2| twice, the ratio of gears l6 and 20 being 2 to 1, thereby putting the master copy in place. Screw I9 is loosened and the'relative angular positions of gear I6 and drum l4 adjusted so that when the cycle starts from click arrangement ll the clear paper will advance to the correct position in contact with the master copy.

As drum |4 rotates pin l8 approaches cam lever 23 and depresses said lever until the click position is reached when the pin is at the furthermost counterclockwise point of the cam surface. At this point pressure bar 24 is slightly below pad 30 permitting a clear sheet to be inserted to make contact with the master at the common tangent point of drum 4 and roller 40.

Lever 34 is depressed until the required pressure is transmitted to roller 40 by means of shaft. 49, lever 31, bar 39, pins 4| and bearings 50. This pressure may be altered at any time during the operation of the machine to alter the ink deposit upon the clear moistened paper.

The operator then rotates lever 2|, by grasping knob 22, in a clockwise direction. A slight movement carries pin I8 from lever 23 and permits bar 24 to rise and press the clear sheet upon pad 30 causing said clear sheet to be moistened. The amount of moisture deposited is initially determined by the number of cords 32 employed. The pressure between roller 40 and drum 4 draws the clear sheet towards platform 53 and in contact with the master. Said pressure causes the master to deposit a definite amount of copying ink upon the clear sheet, thus reproducing the master figures or designs. At the completion of the drum cycle the imprinted sheet is ejected face upward upon platform 53.

When the operator has completed the work cover 28 may be removed and pad 3| swung up and placed on top of tank 21. This prevents a surplusof moisture accumulating in pads 3| and 30. As operation is about to be recommenced pad 3| is replaced and a few moments will sufilce to properly moisten pad 30.

The disclosure herein illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention. It is obvious that other details could be substituted at various points in the machine. For instance, if it is not desired to prevent moisture accumulation and it is satisfactory to remove excess moisture by running several clear sheets without a master, pads 30 and 3| could be combined. This and other possible changes or additions would merely be alternative means of accomplishing the objects of my invention, specifically pointed out in, and limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a duplicating machine of the character described, a tank containing solvent, means for maintaining a uniform and constant capillary fiow of said solvent to the upper face of the clear sheet consisting of absorbent pads and absorbent cords controlling the fiow of said solvent, means for conveying the moistened clear sheet into contact with a reverse master copy and means for compressing the moistened clear sheet against the master copy to obtain a duplicate copy upon said moistened clear sheet.

2. The method of multiplying copies comprising the forming of a master copy with copying ink in reverse, moistening the upper face of a clear sheet by means of capillary flow through absorbent cords to absorbent pads in contact with said upper face, conveying said moistened clear sheet into contact with the reverse master copy and compressing said moistened clear sheet against the master copy to obtain a duplicate copy upon said moistened clear sheet.

3. In a duplicating machine of the character described, a tank containing solvent, means for maintaining a uniform and constant capillary fiow of said solvent to the upper face of the clear sheet consisting of absorbent pads and absorbent cords.

4. In a duplicating machine of the character described, a tank containing solvent, absorbent cords immersed therein and passing through said tank above the solvent level, and absorbent pads.

moistened by said absorbent cords and in contact with the upper face of the clear sheet.

ERNEST M. TERRY. 

